Developments

Robotics Plus signs global deal for robotic apple packers

Jamie Lunam and Dr. Alistair Scarfe. Deal highlights demand for agricultural automation technology; follows recent investment from Yamaha Motor Co. to accelerate company’s growth. Robotics Plus, a New Zealand agricultural robotics and automation company, has signed an agency and distribution agreement with GlobalPac Technologies which will see the company’s revolutionary robotic apple packers go global. The deal, which will initially target the US, Australian and New Zealand markets, is fuelling a period of accelerated growth for Robotics Plus as industry demand for its innovation grows. GlobalPac Technologies is a joint venture between United States company Van Doren Sales and New Zealand-owned Jenkins Group. Robotics Plus CEO Steve Saunders says between the two companies, Van Doren and Jenkins have a presence in almost every packhouse in New Zealand, Australia and the US. “We see enormous potential in our new relationship with GlobalPac Technologies. Naturally their global packhouse relationships offer exciting opportunities for us to expand distribution of our apple packers to markets beyond New Zealand, but more importantly, they share our vision for the future of packhouse automation. Together we aim to transform the global horticulture industry.” Jenkins General Manager, Jamie Lunam, says: “Apple packhouses already use automation extensively for sorting and grading, but the process of arranging apples in trays for export is still highly labour intensive. “Labour shortages are a major and growing concern in New Zealand and many other food producing countries. We see Robotics Plus and their packing technology as game-changing for the industry. It is a very exciting time to be involved in helping to affect this positive change.” Van Doren CEO, Brett Pittsinger says the global apple industry has been packing apples the same way for decades. “Labour shortages are now causing major headaches for packhouses in the United Sates. It’s exciting to see the […]

Company Profile: MSugar finds their sweet spot

“The less human intervention the better, that’s what customers want to see,” says MSugar Managing Director Jay Spittal. MSugar relocated to premises in East Tamaki in mid-2017, and just last month commissioned a new, state-of-the-art fully-automated liquid sugar processing plant to serve customers in the food and beverage manufacturing and beekeeping industries. “Humans make errors and errors can cause contamination, so we’ve built the highest spec plant we could to eliminate that risk,” says Jay. Building a new plant was the way forward MSugar has been trading cane sugars and other food commodities since 2009. Four years ago, the company also began supplying liquid sugar to beekeepers, who use it as a food supplement for bees, and to small-to-medium size food grade customers. “We used a contract manufacturer to start with and they were very good, but after two years we’d built the business up to a point where capacity was holding us back and building a new, automated processing plant was the only way forward.” “With financial analysis and the advice of our accountant and business adviser Karen Tobeck at Monteck Carter we built a business case and took that to our bankers, and thankfully they gave us their support and the funding we needed.” The market for liquid sugar is large in volume terms – millions of litres – but it’s not a spectacular growth market. The commitment to building a new processing plant was one piece in the strategy that MSugar is pursuing to carve out a competitive position in liquid sugar and to succeed by providing exceptional service and a quality product. “With our trading background we understand that ‘sugar is sugar,’ though we’d also argue there are quality differences determined by refining sources and processes. We identified ways to serve customers better by doing things […]

Boost for New Zealand beverage market

Fonterra Farmers see first-hand the operations at the new plant. Two New Zealand companies have teamed up to install a state of the art technology at the Apollo plant in Whakatu, Hawke’s Bay, that will bring some of the best in fruit and dairy beverages to Kiwis’ across the country. The agreement between Fonterra Brands New Zealand and Apollo Foods, an innovative start-up company, will help both companies capitalise on the increasing global popularity for lifestyle beverages. Apollo’s new operation includes innovative beverage filling technology which allows a range of different containers to be produced on site and filled with a range of different products on the one production line. The technology at the plant provides market leading quality control and allows for a superior fresh taste experience over an extended shelf life. This provides opportunities for outlets to stock a greater range of products and in turn gives consumers more choice. Managing Director of Fonterra Brands New Zealand Leon Clement, said a global surge in demand for dairy and fruit beverages presents a fantastic opportunity for both companies. “As high-quality drinks play an increasingly large role in consumers’ diets around the world, New Zealand companies have a real opportunity to create value-adding initiatives across our primary industry sectors,” said Mr Clement. “By taking an innovative partnership approach to production with Apollo Foods, we have been able to open up new opportunities for future brands – and create even more value for our farmers.” The Apollo Foods state of the art facility will have the capacity to produce millions of litres of beverages each year. It will allow Fonterra Brands New Zealand and Apollo Foods to take the lead in their respective categories and benefit from new technology to supply consumer drinks to the growing market. Ross Beaton, Managing Director […]

Farmers urged to be well prepared this Moving Day

OSPRI urges herd owners changing address on Moving Day this year to be vigilant about registering animals and recording movements to enable ongoing traceback and animal health surveillance. Farmers should carefully consider whether they need to move their livestock and take steps to minimise movements where possible. All livestock must be NAIT tagged and their movements recorded in the NAIT system. Farmers should also avoid mixing animals as much as possible to reduce the risk of cattle disease and contamination. That is, the NAIT number will not move with the herd. Instead, the person in charge of animals (PICA) must register a new NAIT number and record a movement for the animals that have moved. A departing herd manager who is the registered PICA for the herd they manage may apply to change the PICA for their NAIT number. This will allow the new PICA to continue to use the same NAIT number for an existing location if required. If you are moving farms, or buying/selling livestock, OSPRI advises that you consider the following actions to minimise the risk of the spread of disease and to ensure you are fulfilling your NAIT and TBfree obligations: Check that your NAIT contact details are up to date in preparation for Moving Day. Register a NAIT and TBfree herd number at all of the locations you manage where cattle are kept. Two or more properties within a 10km radius can use the same NAIT number. Tag and register your animals and record all livestock movements in the NAIT system. Make sure that livestock moving from a designated TB movement control area have had a pre-movement TB test within 60 days and/or have been issued a permit to move. Check the status of any incoming stock or a purchased new herd and whether it […]

Drought will bring more crop disease, scientists warn

New Zealand’s land-based primary industries need to get ready for more, and more serious, crop disease as climate change causes more and longer droughts, according to new research. In the journal Australasian Plant Pathology, the authors say that climate change is expected to bring more droughts in many parts of New Zealand, and more droughts are “likely to increase the severity of a wide range of diseases affecting the plant-based productive sectors”. Scientists from the Bio-Protection Research Centre, Scion, Lincoln University, AUT University, Landcare Research, and the University of Auckland analysed the potential impact of climate-change-induced drought on several commercial plants and their diseases. They found that in most instances “increased drought is expected to increase disease expression”. The probable negative effects of drought include “…a predisposition of hosts to infection through general weakening and/or suppressed disease resistance”. More frequent and more severe droughts could also lead to “emergence of enhanced or new diseases of plants that can reduce primary production”. “New plant disease pressures are expected to occur… with potentially devastating impacts for New Zealand’s productive sectors,” the authors said. But the news is not all bad. “Drought may reduce the severity of some diseases, such as Sclerotina rot of kiwifruit and red needle cast (RNC) of radiata pine,” they said. And in some cases it could “activate systemic defence mechanisms resulting in increased resistance to infection”. In an extended case study the authors said that the effects of increased drought on New Zealand’s Pinus radiata industry would depend on many factors, including whether drought happened early or late in the season. “There is urgent need to study the impacts of the different levels of drought and different levels of RNC severity to understand the thresholds at which radiata pine plantations would still accomplish their economic and ecological roles.” […]

Government right to signal need for change in NZ agriculture

A Lincoln University expert says Environment Minister David Parker is right to signal New Zealand agriculture cannot continue with business as usual. Senior lecturer in Agribusiness Management, Dr Nic Lees, said intensive dairying is currently profitable only because it is not bearing the full costs of its production systems. “It is not paying the cost to the environment of its production. We are all picking up the tab, and especially our children for the impact on our waterways and climate,” he said. “Currently intensive dairy farming is addicted to high production per cow. This means adding in concentrated feed such as palm kernel and high levels of nitrogen fertiliser. This increases costs, which means these systems are only profitable with high production and high commodity prices.” Dr Lees said this shows New Zealand’s future is not in maintaining our position as the lowest cost producer of meat and dairy products. “The longer that the beef and dairy industries hold on to a commodity model based on increasing output and lowering costs the greater will be the future farmer pain. “I think we need to have conversations around “peak cow” and the future of our animal production industries.” He said the Labour Government is clearly signalling New Zealand’s future is not in commodities. “Facing up to “peak cows” will benefit New Zealand and farmers in the long term. It is either some pain now or a lot of pain later. “If not, alternative proteins will take out our commodity agricultural products in the same way nylon took out wool as a fibre.” Minister Parker has said there is potential to change towards cropping, horticulture, which are high-value land uses, Dr Lees said. “He is right to say there are too many cows, however the potential for cropping and horticulture to replace […]

Synlait Palmerston North officially opened

In the picture: Palmerston North Mayor, Grant Smith, cutting the ribbon to open Synlait Palmerston North. Massey University Vice Chancellor, Prof Jan Thomas, stands to his right and Roger Schwarzenbach, Synlait’s GM of Technical and Innovation, is opposite. “We’re very excited to be opening Synlait Palmerston North, which is home to our new Research and Development Centre,” says John Penno, Managing Director and CEO. “We have some major opportunities in front of us. With the strong team and partnerships we’ve got in place to lead liquid innovation within our business, we won’t miss a beat,” he says. The Vice Chancellor of Massey University, Professor Jan Thomas, opened the facility and highlighted the important new relationship between Synlait and the university. “The establishment of Synlait’s new Research and Development Centre at Massey’s Manawatū campus is an excellent example of industry and the university collaborating closely to achieve real, tangible outcomes,” says Professor Thomas. “Strategic partnerships like these are vital if we are to start and grow new industries, create new jobs, and to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Massey University is New Zealand’s premier provider of food research and education, and at the forefront of pioneering such partnerships with the food industry.” she says. Synlait Palmerston North is a partnership with Massey University and FoodPilot, one of the New Zealand Food Innovation Network’s four hubs. The Palmerston North team will primarily concentrate on innovative dairy liquid product development, as well as supporting processes and technology. They will also play an important role in developing innovative export-orientated cream opportunities that leverage Synlait’s upcoming $125 million advanced liquid dairy packaging facility at Synlait Dunsandel. Synlait plans to double their investment over the next two years, having committed around $7 million to research and category development in the current financial year. They will be […]

Two high yielding wheat cultivars due on the market in 2018

Syngenta New Zealand signals its entry into the New Zealand wheat seed market with the commercialisation of two very high yielding wheat cultivars – Graham wheat and Reflection wheat, which represent a significant lift in yield potential. Developed by Syngenta NZ in conjunction with New Zealand head licensee Cropmark Seeds, the two new wheat cultivars are being commercialised this autumn and are the result of an intensive joint breeding and selection programme by the two companies. The breeding programme is already well known for the quality of its barley cultivars which have been at the forefront of the New Zealand barley seed industry for the last 20 years. Graham wheat is the first of the Syngenta-bred wheats to be marketed in New Zealand and will be available in full commercial quantities from this autumn. Graham wheat has impressive yield and agronomic qualities and has already created significant interest from within the arable farming sector. Graham is very high yielding as evidenced by its very high yields in the cereal seed industry’s CPT trials in 2016/7. CPT Wheat Cultivar Evaluation Trials – average yield results (tonnes per hectare) North Island Canterbury Southland Graham 10.1 13.9 13 Wakanui 8.9 13.3 11.2 Starfire 6.8 12.9 11.8 Inferno 5.1 13.2 11.3 Ignite 8.5 13.7 11.9 Source: Foundation For Arable Research booklet 2016/17 Graham has a wide sowing window from April through to June and is a robust variety that yields well across a range of environments and responds well to inputs. On top of this Graham has excellent disease profile, good resistance to Septoria, leaf and stripe rusts. Graham wheat seed will be available through licensed agents Advance Agriculture in Gore, Cates Grain and Seed in Ashburton and PGG Wrightson from autumn 2018. Being released alongside Graham is Reflection wheat, being another high […]

Government and agricultural leaders gather at Parliament to celebrate 50 years of Fieldays

Town and country came together in New Zealand’s capital last night to mark the 50th anniversary of New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays, which was first held in Hamilton in 1969. Leaders from government, agriculture and business gathered in the Grand Hall in Wellington’s Parliament for the function, which included speeches from Director-General of Ministry for Primary Industries, Martyn Dunne, and New Zealand National Fieldays Society CEO Peter Nation. Fieldays is recognised as the largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere. The official launch at Parliament is 90 days out from the 50th anniversary of Fieldays, which will be held 13-16 June at Mystery Creek near Hamilton. Mr Nation said it was an honour to be hosted at Parliament’s Grand Hall, which is a privilege only offered to non-profit organisations and community groups. “Parliament is the powerhouse of New Zealand, and the opportunity to have our 50th anniversary launch event there indicates the significance of Fieldays to the country,” said Mr Nation. “Fieldays is important to New Zealand’s primary industries. For 50 years we’ve been bringing urban and rural communities together and working to advance agriculture through technology, education, innovation and internationalisation.” The New Zealand National Fieldays Society board, and its president Peter Carr, also attended last night’s event, along with representatives from top New Zealand agricultural organisations and businesses. In addition, a large group of MPs attended, as well as senior officials from Ministry of Primary Industries and Callaghan Innovation, which demonstrated the strength of connections between Wellington and Mystery Creek, said Mr Nation. “We really value the support we’ve had over the years from local government and central government,” said Mr Nation. “Fieldays has always been a place that prime ministers and MPs have come to talk to farmers and take the pulse of the industry. Fieldays is a place […]

Taupo dairy farmer recognised in Dairy Community Leadership awards

Taupo dairy farmer Kylie Leonard has been recognised for her community involvement by Dairy Women’s Network with the 2018 Dairy Community Leadership Award. The award celebrates the unsung heroes of rural communities and was presented at a gala dinner tonight during Dairy Women’s Network’s conference in Rotorua. The conference also marked the Network’s 20th year. Leonard milks 400 cows at Oruanui, Taupo, with her husband Rick and daughters Kate, Isla and Eloise. Her family has a long history of farming in the Central Plateau; her grandparents walked from Te Aroha, in Waikato, to Reporoa to establish their dairy farm in the 1950s. Originally training as a teacher, in 2011 Leonard and her husband entered into a farm equity partnership with her parents, where she continues to milk and rear calves while teaching children with learning disabilities part-time. Leonard says receiving the Dairy Community Leadership award is acknowledgement of her commitment to promoting the dairy farming lifestyle. “It’s an honour to receive the Dairy Community Leadership Award,” she says. “The dairy industry is in my heart and soul, and seeing others be involved and succeed is a really great feeling. “For me, connection is all about authenticity and inclusion – whether that’s sharing a positive story about the industry or putting my hand up to question something. I pride myself on being a positive role model to others.” Leonard regularly promotes and hosts visits to her farm with playcentres, kindergartens, primary schools, colleges and visitors. “Sharing a positive story and my love for our cows and our land is something I aim to do daily, whether that’s on social media, at school, at an event or socialising. I never let an opportunity to share go past. “Long-term I would love to encourage more people to enter our industry and help them […]

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